Editorial
Lawsuit Is The Best Option Against Corruption
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 21 February 2013 15:57
- Written by The News
For Several Days now, news about alleged corruption involving the dismissed Managing Director of the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) Ellen Corkrum have taken over the airwaves and newspapers.
The Board of Directors of LAA has accused Madam Corkrum of stealing about one million United States dollars during the period of five months of service at LAA. LAA Board Chairman Musa Bility told a news conference last week that Corkrum made payments including US$255,000 to Diaspora Consulting, a group Bility said, was bogus.
Diaspora Consulting was recommended by Madam Corkrum to rehabilitate the runway of the Roberts International Airport and the pavement. In The Wake of the money noise, the LAA says it had finally decided to pursue legal action against Madam Corkrum, who is at the center of corruption at the Liberia Airport Authority.
This is the best decision anybody can take especially if that person intends to stop criminality and breaching of the law. Let Madam Corkrum and her collaborators face justice for their alleged involvement in depleting the coffers of LAA.
The court should adjudicate this matter so that the public can be convinced that the former LAA manager actually committed the crime or is innocent during her administration. It is absolutely unacceptable to allow individuals to commit crimes with impunity. Therefore, the decision to prosecute Corkrum is a welcome development.
From Information gathered, Madam Corkrum is a citizen of the United States of America which makes it difficult or impossible to extradite her to Liberia. Moreover, the United States does not allow their citizens to be prosecuted in foreign land.
However, we believe the laws of the United States do not excuse any of their citizens who commit crimes in foreign land. In This Regard, we support the LAA to go after Madam Corkrum and her alleged boyfriend Melvin Johnson in U.S. Courts or Liberia.
We believe that U.S. courts will not deny Liberia the right to pursue the due process against Madam Corkrum and her boyfriend giving the critical nature of the matter. Corkrum must face criminal prosecution whether or not she is a citizen of the United States.
We Are Convinced that the United States will not support any of its citizens to commit crime with impunity especially in a country where it has spent American taxpayers' money to rebuild and restore peace.
The lawsuit, by authority of LAA, is the best option against corruption and other financial malpractices.
